Alma is a small Mississippi River community in western Wisconsin, nestled between the waterfront and steep, wooded bluffs. Its historic downtown stretches along the river, with local shops, inviting gathering places, and views of passing boats and river wildlife. Above town, scenic overlooks and park trails reveal the broad Mississippi Valley and the surrounding Driftless landscape. The city offers a quiet, close-knit setting with easy access to fishing, boating, birdwatching, and the countryside.
Why People Are Building In Alma, WI
Mosscreek, the Right Designer
Building a MossCreek designed home creates the perfect way to live in harmony with your surroundings. Every home is designed to fit carefully within its natural setting while offering the best in contemporary living. See “Custom Design” in our menu above to learn more about us and how we can help you realize a MossCreek designed home.
Finding a Builder
MossCreek has a network of builders that we regularly work with and would be glad to introduce you to them. We are also happy to work with the builder of your choice.
Build Here for Scenic Beauty and More
River views, wooded slopes and small parks give Alma several ways to enjoy the Driftless landscape close to home.
Nearby Natural Gems:
- Buena Vista Park: A blufftop park with sweeping Mississippi River views and picnic space.
- Rieck’s Lake Park: A waterfront park with an observation deck, waterfowl watching and camping.
- Mossy Hollow Hiking Trails: Wooded paths and quiet bluff scenery above town.
- Wings Over Alma: A nature and art center with a river-facing viewing deck.
- Danzinger Vineyards: A bluffside vineyard with sweeping views, outdoor seating and wine tastings.
Fishing
Alma sits beside a productive stretch of the Mississippi. These selections include local operations and farther public-water destinations; they are not a complete inventory of access points.
Top-rated fishing outfitters and guides:
- Rutting Ridge Outfitters: An established local guide operation led by Captain Jarrad Fluekiger, offering Mississippi River and Lake Pepin fishing trips.
- Great Alma Fishing Float: A well-reviewed staffed fishing float below the dam, with ferry pickup from downtown Alma and bait available aboard.
Popular fishing locations:
- Alma Marina: Boat access to Pool 4 just above Lock and Dam 4; slip rentals and boating services support river fishing.
- Merrick State Park: A Mississippi River fishing destination south of Alma, with two boat launches and backwater access.
- Whitman Dam Wildlife Area: Floodplain and marsh fishing southeast of Cochrane; access is available from Merrick State Park or the end of Whitman Dam Road.
- Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge: Refuge pools reached from Kiep’s Island boat landing offer a farther fishing outing south of Alma; boats use electric motors only.
- Izaak Walton Park: A Wabasha riverfront park across the Mississippi, with a boat launch and a separate fishing dock near Grant Boulevard West.
- Edward W. Malone Park: A Wabasha backwater park with an accessible fishing dock reached from Church Avenue.
- Tiffany Wildlife Area: A farther Chippewa River fishing destination north of Nelson, with boat access from Ella to the Tiffany Bottoms portion of the wildlife area.
Museums and Galleries
Local history, small galleries and a downtown theater provide cultural stops within the city.
Highlights include:
- Castlerock Museum: Historic arms and armor displayed in a purpose-built museum.
- Alma Area Museum: Local-history exhibits in Alma’s former school building; seasonal visiting hours.
- Wings Over Alma: Changing art exhibitions alongside the center’s river and wildlife interests.
- The Commercial Gallery: A long-established gallery featuring textiles, pottery, paintings and other artwork.
- Big River Theatre: An intimate downtown venue for live music, film and community entertainment.
Hiking
Start with Alma’s bluff paths, then consider the longer outings below for a change of landscape.
Popular hiking trails:
- Buena Vista Trail: A climb from Second Street to the blufftop park and river overlook.
- Mossy Hollow Hiking Trails: Woodland paths reached from the cemetery road; respect the marked transition to private property.
- Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge: A named wildlife refuge reaching from the River Bottoms area near Bluff Siding; a farther outing south of Alma.
- Upper Bluffside Trail: A bluff trail in Frontenac State Park, Minnesota; plan a longer day trip across the river via Wabasha.
Shopping
Main Street supports distinctive shops for handmade goods, gifts and antiques.
Top shopping destinations:
- Alma Leather: A local leather shop with handcrafted goods.
- Water Lily Gifts: An independent Main Street gift shop.
- W. Whiffs: Locally made scented candles and specialty gifts.
- Unparalleled Farms: A Main Street farm shop featuring locally produced goods.
- Mrs. Hippie Inn & Antiques: Antiques, art, vintage collectibles and furniture in a restored downtown building.
- Vintage Floral: An independent florist with flowers, houseplants, candles and gifts on North Main Street.
- All Savvy Designs: An Alma boutique featuring locally made gifts, apparel, candles and crochet creations.
Restaurants
These verified local options include sit-down meals and quick bakery or drink stops.
Standout restaurants:
- Alma Bakery: A downtown stop for fresh bakery goods.
- Tater’s Dam View: Burgers and casual bar food across from the lock and dam viewing area.
- Alma Hotel Restaurant & Bar: A historic downtown setting serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Happy Hub: A quick Main Street stop for teas and shakes.
- Alfresco Pizzeria: Made-to-order pizza in a downtown Main Street setting.
- Red Ram Saloon: Classic pub fare and drinks in a downtown bar and grill.
- Burlington Hotel & Bar: A historic North Main Street bar offering drinks and snacks on Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Walker’s Silvermoon: A restaurant and bar in northern Alma serving burgers, smoked meats and daily specials, with live events and camping.
Where People Are Building In Alma, WI
Where People Build in the Alma Area
Building-area choices range from established acreage subdivisions to older residential neighborhoods and rural valleys. The maps show geographic areas; they do not establish that particular lots are available or approved for construction.
Developments in and Around Alma
New Developments
- Shawnee Estates: Acreage homesites in northern Alma with custom design-and-build services. This is an established development marketing remaining homesites; a newly started phase was not established.
- Alma Hills: An established bluffside subdivision with remaining acreage homesites and river views. HOA and private-road restrictions apply.
Growing Neighborhoods
- Alma Historic District: A historic residential and commercial core suited to renovation and selective infill. Historic-design review applies.
- Capps Addition: An established single-family neighborhood along Vista Drive above the river, offering an alternative to the historic downtown core.
- Buffalo Subdivision: An established Nelson neighborhood around Buffalo Court, with single-family homes and a history of infill building.
Other New Construction Opportunities
- Mill Creek: The western valley along County Road S in the Town of Alma combines rural homes, wooded slopes and farm acreage. Potential homesites are subject to agricultural zoning and density limits.
- Herold: The rural crossroads around County Highways E and N offers farmstead and acreage settings east of Alma. Agricultural zoning, density limits and site conditions govern potential residential use.
Choosing A Location
- Custom design and acreage: Shawnee Estates, an established development offering design-and-build services.
- Bluffside homesites: Alma Hills, a remaining-lot option with private-road and HOA restrictions.
- Historic renovation: Alma Historic District, a downtown setting subject to historic-design review.
- Established residential streets: Capps Addition and Upper Subdivision, alternatives to the historic core.
- Nearby village living: Buffalo Subdivision, an established neighborhood in Nelson.
- Rural acreage: Mill Creek and Herold, farm and woodland settings with agricultural zoning constraints.
- Creekside surroundings: Spring Creek, a northern Alma setting where low-lying wet areas require careful site selection.
Where People Build in Surrounding Areas
Nearby villages and rural townships provide alternatives to Alma’s compact riverfront setting.
Communities and towns to consider include:
- Nelson: A compact Mississippi River village north of Alma with an established residential core and access toward Wabasha.
- Town of Alma: The nearby western Mill Creek valley offers a rural setting of farms, wooded hillsides and scattered homes east of the city.
- Town of Belvidere: The western township around Herold provides rolling farmland and rural residential settings reached by County Highway E.
- Cochrane: A small village south of Alma with established residential streets near the Mississippi backwaters.
- Buffalo City: A river community with quiet residential streets, public boat access and backwater scenery.
Nelson offers a village setting, Cochrane and Buffalo City offer residential streets farther south, and the nearby parts of the Towns of Alma and Belvidere provide rural alternatives.
